It’s a bit of a drive from Louisiana to autumn foliage, but once you clear Atlanta, there’s plenty to be found in the North Georgia mountains, along with a host of fall fun.
We’re talking pumpkin patches, apple picking and cider, corn mazes, hay rides, Octoberfests and much more.
Down on the farm
Johnny and Kathy Burt, of Dawsonville, were looking to make extra money for Christmas, so they planted pumpkins to sell at the end of the farm’s growing season. After thousands of people showed up to visit their pumpkin patch, the Burts made it an annual event.
Burt’s Pumpkin Farm sells pumpkins in all shapes and colors in September and October.
Burt’s Pumpkin Farm begins selling rows and rows of pumpkins in all shapes and colors in September and continues through the end of October. In addition, the farm offers wagon rides through the pumpkin patch and zinnia fields decorated for children’s delight. At the end of the ride, there’s a dramatic view of neighboring Amicalola Falls.
Not far from Burt’s Farm, the Weavers grow organic crops throughout the year, along with selling fried pies, peanuts, apple cider slushies and lots of baked goods created on the farm. There’s also a gift shop located inside an 1800s building that once housed the town’s first dentist. By the end of September, however, the Weavers pull out the pumpkins.
It all began when a young Bradley Weaver was looking to raise funds.
“My son started this when he was 5,” Karen Weaver said. “Now he’s 33.”
Jaemer Farms is a six-generation farm northeast of Atlanta where visitors may purchase not only produce and local food products, herbs, flowers and gifts but also lunch items and baked goods fresh out of the oven. In the fall, Jaemer hosts a pumpkin patch, a Harvest Celebration and Corn Maze daily through Nov. 2. For those who prefer a fall experience without kids, there was a Night Out on the Farm for adults Sept. 26.
Visitors to Mercier Orchards ride a truck to their pick-your-own-apples spot.
A-peeling fun
The north Georgia mountains are known for their apples, and every fall the twin cities of Ellijay and Blue Ridge honor the great American fruit with special events.
Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge grows 52 varieties of apples and invites visitors to pick their own, plus sample their cider selections that they press themselves, about 1,500 to 1,700 gallons of juice a day. Inside their massive store, the bakery section sells fried apple pies that are a must to try; they’re over-the-top delicious.
Ellijay celebrates its apple heritage with the annual Georgia Apple Festival, this year Oct. 11-12 and 18-19. Look for hundreds of vendors selling hand-crafted items and performing on-site demonstrations, plus live music and fair food, which, of course, includes apples.
Corn mazes
It’s easy to get lost in Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze, but what fun you’ll have in the process. Dawsonville’s annual corn maze — named one of USA Today’s 10 Best Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Patches — offers a new design each year across its 15 acres. In addition to running through a cornfield like something out of a Stephen King novel, there are pumpkins, a jumping pillow, tire mountain, kids’ maze, gem mining and on Friday and Saturday nights in October, The Dark Rows haunted trail in a separate cornfield illuminated only by the moon.
The corn maze runs now through two weekends in November.
Danny and Sharon Fausett open their 30 acres of sunflowers to the public every fall.
Sunflowers
Danny and Sharon Fausett plant sunflowers every year so that when September rolls around, there are 30 acres of gorgeous flowers facing the sun with a dramatic mountain backdrop. They open the fields to the public every fall to allow others to bask in the yellow and orange hues, accented by butterflies and hummingbirds.
“We love the outdoors,” Sharon Fausett said. “We love nature and we want the young generations to experience it too.”
The blooms begin around the second and third week of September, and the flowers usually stay until the end of October when frost appears.
Oktoberfest
The northeastern Georgia mountain town of Helen saw its tourism decline when interstates arrived, but leaders came up with a brilliant idea to turn the small enclave into a Bavarian-themed alpine village. People now flock to Helen for the German food, music and attractions, but especially in the fall when Helen hosts Oktoberfest, the longest-running of its kind in the United States. From Sept. 4 through Nov. 2, the streets erupt with weeks of dancing, entertainment, food, a parade and, of course, beer and wine. This 55-year tradition features musicians, dancers and performers from Germany and German communities from many states.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
